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Call it "the little bill that could." After more than a year of votes and deliberation – to say nothing of attacks by everyone from Tea Party members and small farmers – the Food Safety Modernization Act has finally passed Congress. It wasn't an easy journey.
Remember last year when, in the depths of the Great Peanut Recall of 2009, it came out that the Peanut Corporation of America had knowingly shipped out salmonella-contaminated peanut paste to its customers and had been doing so for almost two years?
"The nation's food-protection system relies largely on voluntary efforts by food makers to process food safely," observed the New York Times in January, 2009, "and agree to recall tainted foods when their own tests show problems. Government inspections are rare and sometimes inadequate."
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Peanut Corp had actually found traces of Salmonella in its processing plant in 2007 and 2008 but, rather than issuing recalls or even cleaning up the plant, it simply continued re-testing until it got the results it wanted. The result, of course, was the recall that ended up costing at least nine people their lives, put nearly 700 people into hospital, and cost numerous companies a total of a billion dollars in lost revenues.
The massive recall, which affected 361 companies and 3,913 different products ranging from peanut butter and frozen convenience foods to dog treats and snack crackers, drove home a very painful fact: our food safety regulations and the agencies responsible for enforcing them were in desperate need of an overhaul. Clearly, the voluntary system we had been using wasn't working. (See the Christian Science Monitor's 'Five Food Recalls that Rattled the Industry')
This week's passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act will go a long way toward changing that. Until now, for example, the government could not order a recall of contaminated or defective food: it had to rely upon the willingness of offending companies to do so.
The new law, passed by the House of Representatives Tuesday 215-144, was passed unanimously by the Senate in a roll call vote Sunday much to the surprise of, well, pretty much everyone.
"The bill survived a near-fatal constitutional snafu, filibuster threats, fierce debate over controversial amendments, and managed to gain ground amidst a jam-packed legislative agenda in one of the most productive Congresses in recent history," wrote Food Safety News. "In the last 18 months, food safety legislation cleared the Senate twice and the House three times."
What does the new law do? According to the Washington Post, the act will:
- "Allow the FDA to order a recall of tainted foods. Currently the agency can only negotiate with businesses to order voluntary recalls;
- "Require the FDA to create new produce safety regulations for producers of the highest risk fruits and vegetables;
- "Increase inspections of domestic and foreign food facilities, directing the most resources to those operations with the highest risk profiles. The riskiest domestic facilities would be inspected every three years;
- "Require farms and processors to keep records to help the government trace recalled foods;
- "Require grocery stores to proactively alert consumers about recalls."
The new legislation really only effects the Food and Drug Administration but its impact will be felt the producers of 80 percent of what we eat. Meat, poultry, and processed eggs are overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Peanut butter, fresh eggs, and spinach, on the other hand, fall under the purview of the FDA. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill before Christmas.
Here's to a new year of safer eating for everyone.


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Etch A Sketch Comment Sets off Toy War
Lexington, MA | When Romney advisor Eric Fehrnstrom commented that Romney’s campaign record was like an Etch A Sketch because all the idiotic things Romney has said and done so far can be wiped clean and a new record can be etched for the general election, he had no idea that this comment would set off an increasingly vicious toy war.
Senior VP of Marketing Martin Killgallon at the Ohio Art Company said the metaphor is an apt one. “Just look at what you can do with our product! Einstein one minute, George Harrison the next! Who knows what new positions Mitt will etch?”
Skyrocketing Etch A Sketch sales have thrown gasoline on an already simmering jealousy among other manufacturers that make transmutable toys.
During a hastily called press conference, the CEO of Crayola, maker of Silly Putty, called the Etch A Sketch claim “a bunch of baloney.”
“Not only is Silly Putty the original toy that adapts its shape to literally anything — just like Romney’s policies — but we now have Changeable Silly Putty that changes color in your hand! If that isn’t Mitt Romney to a T, I don’t know what is!”
The Archie McPhee Company, long-time purveyors of useless crap, joined the fray, pointing out that their bendable figures are a far more apt metaphor for Mitt Romney’s candidacy.
“Mitt twists his positions and makes these painfully tortured explanations. If that isn’t just like our fully bendable Mr. Bacon figure, what is, I ask you?” said a McPhee spokesperson, who was wearing McPhee’s new inflatable unicorn horn and a pair of giant underpants.
Not to be outdone, Brian Goldner, President and CEO of Hasbro, called a press conference outside Romney for President Headquarters in Lexington, MA.
“I am here to set the record straight once and for all. Mitt Romney is PLAY-DOH!
“He always has been PLAY-DOH. Unlike bendable toys, or Etch A Sketches, or any of that crap that McPhee sells, you can make anything out of our product, take it apart, mash it up, and make something else — that’s as long as you don’t bake it — and here again, you see the resemblance because most of Romney’s ideas aren’t baked at all!”

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As millennials enter the manufacturing workforce, work style differences with their older colleagues seem to attract more attention than the innovation strides that these young professionals and students are making. That won’t be true at PACK EXPO East (Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia; Feb. 16-18, 2015). Show owner and producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, has organized special displays and demonstrations that spotlight the achievements of packaging and engineering students from Rutgers University and Vanderbilt University.
Rutgers' elite Packaging Engineering Program (Booth #1067) will present The Packaging Design Studio to demonstrate the latest student-developed packaging equipment. The new technologies on display will include automated systems for loading and unloading, custom-order snack mix production machines and innovative packaging prototypes.
The Future of Pneumatics (Booth #858), sponsored by Vanderbilt, the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) and The Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP), will showcase advancements in pneumatic technology, including live demonstrations of the school's pneumatic exhaust gas recovery system. The team says its system can help companies meet sustainability goals by reducing air consumption of pneumatic actuators by up to 25 percent. This system is neither commercialized nor widely used yet, and the display will offer attendees an early look into the next generation of pneumatics technology.
The contributions of students from Rutgers and Vanderbilt at PACK EXPO East represent just a few of the early manufacturing achievements of the millennial generation, fueling heightened expectations for this group. According to "Inspiring the Next Generation Workforce: The 2014 Millennial Impact Report," from The Case Foundation, this group of workers is over 35 million strong, with approximately 14 million 20- to 24-year-olds and almost 32 million 25- to 34-year-olds employed in the United States as of April 20141.
"Companies must continue to adapt to the rapidly changing face of the workforce," says Maria Ferrante, vice president, Education & Workforce Development, PMMI. "Hiring millennials can come with distinct advantages. The students who participate in the Rutgers and Vanderbilt programs exhibiting at PACK EXPO East exemplify the drive, talent and commitment to excellence that they share with so many of their counterparts in engineering programs across the country."
The February debut of PACK EXPO East — the newest event in PMMI's portfolio of PACK EXPO trade shows — will be an important destination where professionals of all levels of experience, backgrounds and market segments will discover the latest innovations in processing and packaging. In addition to the aisles of new technologies on display, visiting The Packaging Design Studio and attending The Future of Pneumatics demonstration will offer attendees an illuminating glimpse into the future of packaging and processing for their respective industries - and beyond.
>> For more information, to learn more and to register for PACK EXPO East, click here


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Gamesom in Cologne, Germany is one of the biggest gaming conventions in the world and the show will be underway in just five short days. We already know that Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops II is going to have a huge presence on the floor, but EA has now released their Gamescom lineup, and you can get all the details after the break.
“Our industry is changing faster than ever before, and our players demand the quality and strength of our best brands with offerings for all of their gaming devices,” Jens Uwe Intat, Senior Vice President of EA European Publishing said. “We’re focused on delivering the franchises they love and keeping them fresh, personal and connected across platforms. Consumers have a lot of great gaming to look forward to this year.”
The following games will be playable during the show at the EA Booth (Hall 6 / B070):
-EA SPORTS FIFA Manager 13
-Medal of Honor Warfighter
-Need for Speed Most Wanted
-Star Wars: The Old Republic
EA will also be holding a press conference on August 14th and a live stream of the event will be viewable at EA.com. What EA titles are you most looking forward to?


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Almira Bardai & Lindsay Nahmiache rank on the W100
— PROFIT and Canadian Business unveil 18th annual list of Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs —
PROFIT and Canadian Business released their 18th annual W100 list of Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs and the Jive PR + Digital partners made the list! Published today at PROFITguide.com, the W100 ranks female entrepreneurs using a proprietary formula that considers the size, growth rate and profitability of the businesses they own and manage.
“The members of the 2016 W100 each possess the talent and tenacity to start and grow a successful business,” said James Cowan, Editor-in-chief of PROFIT and Canadian Business. “Their remarkable achievements serve as proof that ambitious, risk-taking female entrepreneurs are integral to the growth of the Canadian economy.”
About the W100
Now in its 18th year, the W100 ranking of Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs is Canada’s largest celebration of achievement by women business owners. Produced by the editors of PROFIT and Canadian Business, the rankings and extended coverage of the women honoured are published in print and online. Applicants to the 2016 W100 were ranked using a proprietary formula that considers the size, growth rate and profitability of the companies they own and manage. To see this year’s complete ranking and find links to full W100 editorial coverage, visit http://www.profitguide.com/w100.


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President Donald Trump has publicly blamed the Federal Reserve's interest rates hikes for holding back U.S. economic growth.The Fedread more
China's President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday morning for a state visit to North Korea — the first by a Chinese state leader in 14 years. Experts say the move...Asia Politicsread more
Gold prices spiked in the afternoon of Asian trading hours on Thursday after a dovish U.S Federal Reserve opened the door to further rate cuts, and the 10-year Treasury yield...Metalsread more
The Fed came very close to promising a rate cut Wednesday, and now markets are focused on a possible July rate cut.Market Insiderread more
Waymo has signed a deal with Renault and Nissan to develop self-driving cars and trucks for use in France, Japan and possibly other countries in Asia, including China, the...Autosread more
"No U.S. drone was operating in Iranian airspace today," a U.S. Central Command spokesman said, according to NBC News.World Politicsread more
The Fed left interest rates unchanged at its monetary policy meeting. The U.S. central bank did, however, drop the word "patient " from its statement and said it would "act as...Asia Marketsread more
As the presidents of U.S. and China near a highly anticipated meeting on trade, the gap in both sides' expectations regarding a deal remains wide.World Politicsread more
Markets had expected the central bank to keep its benchmark interest rate steady while setting up a cut at the July meeting.The Fedread more
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell below 2% for the first time since November 2016 on Wednesday.Bondsread more
Powell said policymakers are concerned about some of the recent economic developments and see a growing case for easier policy.The Fedread more
Google's move to stop licensing its Android mobile operating system to Huawei could deal a huge blow to the Chinese tech giant's ambitions to become the top player in smartphones globally.
The U.S. tech conglomerate has suspended business activity with Huawei that involves the transfer of hardware, software and key technical services. Google made the move in order to comply with Washington's decision to put Huawei on the so-called Entity List, meaning American firms need to get a license to sell products to the Chinese firm.
It means Huawei can no longer license Google's proprietary Android operating system and other services that it offers. Instead, Huawei is now only able to use a public version of Google's operating system through the Android Open Source Project. It means future Huawei phones will not have the Google services that users have come to expect on Android devices.
"We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications," a Google spokesperson said Monday. "For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices."
A Huawei spokesperson told CNBC that the company is "evaluating the possible impact of this U.S. government action on consumers."
"Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world. As one of Android's key global partners, we have worked closely with their open-source platform to develop an ecosystem that has benefitted both users and the industry," the spokesperson said.
"Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products covering those have been sold or still in stock globally. We will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem, in order to provide the best experience for all users globally."
It's a huge blow to the Chinese firm, which relies heavily on Android for the smartphones it sells outside of China. Within China, the company uses a modified version of Android that doesn't have Google apps preinstalled because the search giant's services are blocked there. But in markets outside of China, Huawei's smartphones run Android complete with Google apps.
Just over 49%, of Huawei's smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2019 were to international markets outside of mainland China, according to Canalys. Huawei was the second-largest smartphone maker by global market share in the first quarter. The company has previously laid out its ambitions to become the top player in smartphones by 2020. But the latest move by Google could put a dent in that.
"It will be like an instant kill switch for Huawei's ambition to overtake Samsung in the global market," Nicole Peng, vice president of mobility at Canalys, told CNBC by phone on Monday.
Huawei relies on key components from several other American suppliers for everything from smartphones to its networking equipment. It counts over 30 American firms among its core suppliers. Some of those suppliers, including Qualcomm and Intel, have told employees they will not sell to Huawei until further notice, according to a Bloomberg report on Monday.
Huawei says it has been preparing for the sort of situation it now faces. In March, the company said that it had developed its own operating system for its consumer products if there came a time it was not able to use Google's or Microsoft's.
And just last week, the Nikkei Asian Review reported that Huawei told some suppliers six months ago that it wanted to build up a year's worth of crucial components to prepare for any issues related to the U.S.-China trade war. Huawei has been developing its own chip technology, as well.
While Huawei has been able to reduce its reliance on American suppliers for some components, experts said that might not be enough because it still needs other parts from U.S. firms. And analysts have also cast doubt on the viability of Huawei's own operating system.
Neil Shah, a research director at Counterpoint Research, said Huawei will have to rely on third-party Android app stores outside of China because Google Play will not be installed by default. That could be a problem.
"This makes a clear disadvantage for Huawei's own (operating system) vs the Android (operating system) shipped on Samsung or other phones firstly in terms of lack of all the apps available on the Google Play store, quality of apps (some might be dated), potentially less secure as they will not be screened by Google or follows Google's monthly secure patches and overall user-experience of the store," Shah said.
"So all the apps from US players will not be available out of the box and users will have to sideload it or Huawei will have to make it available via third party or own branded Android compatible app store which is going to be a humongous task for Huawei," he added.


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Sam’s Club’s Hispanic-themed Más Club concept will debut July 2 in Houston, offering a variety of products imported from Latin American countries.
The 143,000-square-foot store will offer fresh produce and meats, including a variety of cuts, and a full-service meat and seafood counter. It will carry a selection of Hispanic foods and international brands including beverages, spices and candy for both family use and small-business resale.
In addition, the store will provide space for an outdoor shopping and an event area, and its café will offer fresh-made tortillas. It will also have its own gas station, exclusive to Más Club Members.
Membership to Más Club is exclusive, and existing Sam’s Club members interested in Más Club will need to purchase a separate annual membership to shop at the facility.
Sam's Club first unveiled the concept in October 2008, and said at that time that locations were slated to open this year.


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"...individuals, not the government, should be free to make choices on the type of health care coverage they wish to obtain and the doctor they would like to see." -- Charles Siegel, 50-Off Stores
WASHINGTON -- Two mass merchants are taking a leading role in the retail industry's battle against certain health care reform proposals.
Bernard F. Brennan, chief executive officer of Montgomery Ward & Co., and Charles Siegel, ceo of 50-Off Stores, told a House panel last week that employer mandates in health care reform would have disastrous consequences for the retail industry.
"No issue is of more significance to retailers," Brennan told the House Ways and Means Committee. "Whatever is done will have enormous impact on retail."
Brennan testified on behalf of the National Retail Federation. He took the reins as new chairman of the trade group at its annual convention in January. Siegel spoke for the International Mass Retail Association. He is a member of IMRA's board.
Retailers joined the opposition to employer mandates early in the debate, and their arguments gained momentum last week when major business groups, including the Business Roundtable, came out against President Clinton's proposal that employers pay 80 percent of health care premiums for all workers -- full-timers and part-timers.
House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt (D., Mo.) turned up the heat Friday on congressional Republicans, who are almost unanimous in their opposition to employer mandates. Gephardt blamed business opposition to Clinton's plan on Republicans who "twisted their arms...and twisted the facts in the process."
The debate is likely to get uglier. Brennan and Siegel faced criticism from members of the House Ways and Means Committee for their opposition.
"I know that most retail workers have a primary job that provides them with health care coverage," said Rep. Sam Gibbons (D., Fla.). "If Mr. Brennan says his folks are taken care of and he wants to keep it that way, I can't blame him for not wanting to pay mandates. But somebody has to pay for it. You'll either get mandates or taxes or we'll end up keeping the current system. But something will be done this year."Rep. Jim McDermott (D., Wash.), sponsor of a health care reform package that would require payroll taxes, criticized the retailers for saying they "can't do what every other country is doing."
"I want you to tell me why America is so weak and uncreative that the business community will walk out of here and say it can only provide access," McDermott said. "Everyone else has done it."
Retailers believe, Siegel said, "that individuals, not the government, should be free to make choices on the type of health care coverage they wish to obtain and the doctor they would like to see."
Employer mandates disproportionately impact retail, Brennan said, because of the high number of workers, especially part-time. A survey of 10 retailers employing a total of 1.3 million people revealed that during the first four years under Clinton's reform, health care costs could rise an average of 89 percent per year or more, Brennan said.
"Of all the major industries, the retail sector would experience the greatest percentage increase in the number of workers who would become insured by their own employer under an employer mandate," the Ward's leader said.
He estimated that more than 500,000 retail jobs nationwide would be lost and that Ward's would have to eliminate 5,000 to 10,000 jobs if universal coverage were mandated. It would be difficult to absorb higher health care costs by raising the cost of merchandise, Brennan said, because retail currently is experiencing "deflation" as it lowers prices to compete.
Siegel predicted that retailers would consolidate part-time jobs into full-time jobs. Attempting to track part-time workers to determine their health care payments would be an "administrative and compliance nightmare," he said.
Brennan pointed out that because store traffic is heaviest from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., many full-time workers would have to work evening hours or split shifts, which could discourage employment.
@chanel and @pharrell dropped what’s being dubbed as the world’s most exclusive sneakers yesterday. The Adidas Originals NMD Hu, which Williams designed in collaboration with Chanel and @adidasoriginals, has a waiting list of over 120K people who pre-registered online at chanelatcolette.fr –– and only 500 pairs are on sale. The singer predicted the resale value of the shoes could reach $40K. Read the full interview on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdfashion
@imanshumpert is diving deeper into his creative endeavors and relaunching his clothing line, Post 90s, and is helping to raise money for the hurricane victims in St. Maarten with a jersey he’s designed with his brother. The Cleveland Cavaliers player talked to WWD about kneeling during the national anthem, working with fashion brands and how he wants to be more than an @nba player. Read the interview on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)
Not only does #TheProfit return to CNBC tonight, but @marcuslemonis has launched @shopmarcus, a new shopping and lifestyle retail experience in Aspen and Chicago, with more locations to come. The retail stores offer in-store stylists and a variety of contemporary womenswear selections.
“It’s life, I’m going to face it,” @mingxi11 sighed. “I fell, but you know, I think the most important thing is that I get back up. I had the love, the help from my sister — the girl next to me Gizele [Oliveira] — she’s so nice. When I went backstage everybody was trying to comfort me like ‘Oh Ming, it’s OK.’ I’m really, really touched. I think it’s them who gave me the courage to go back on stage for the finale,” Xi told WWD of her fall at the @victoriassecret fashion show. (📷: David Fisher) #wwdfashion #vsfashionshow #victoriassecret
@louisvuitton tapped @therealpeterlindbergh for its latest city-centric photo book, which is part of a series called Fashion Eye. The primarily black and white book captures the spirit of Berlin in 57 images shot between 1989 and 2019. “Berlin is an inspiration for me, more than a city. I mean @millajovovich is simply Berlin!” said Lindbergh. #wwdfashion
“You know, I think audiences expect a certain performance so I have to deliver to them what they’re expecting to a certain degree. But I’m also a different actor and a different person, I have my own spin on the character,” says @noahegalvin of his takeover of the leading role in “Dear Evan Hansen” following the departure of @bensplatt, who originated the role. Read WWD’s interview with the 23-year-old actor on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
For pre-fall 2018, @etro created richly-colored wonderland, using tapestries, textiles and wallpapers from the Eastern world at large. The line featured floral and graphic prints and jacquard motifs, like this two-piece look featured here. #wwdfashion (📷: Giovanna Pavesi)
@kith is moving into children’s. The men’s and women’s streetwear brand has launched Kidset, a Kith kids line located in New York at 64 Bleecker Street. The line includes mini versions of staple Kith pieces like the Astor bomber jacket and the Kith box logo sweatshirts, along with a wall that can display up to 120 pairs of shoes from @adidas, @newbalance, @timberland and more. #wwdfashion
“I just wanted to create this fully rounded character, but I do think what excited me most was just the opportunity to give a group of people representation that I feel needs it. I like to do characters in projects that stand for something and Karolina definitely does, so that was really exciting to me,” @ginnygardner says of her new role in @hulu’s “The Runaways.” Gardner plays Karolina Dean, a queer superhero, which is a rarity for @marvel. Read more about Gardner’s character on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @dandoperalski)


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US: Hot Topic Q3 profit up on sales rise
- Q3 profit up 38% to $4.3m
- Sales rose 2% to $179.4m
- Comparable sales edged up 0.2%
Teen apparel retailer Hot Topic has booked a 38% rise in third-quarter net profit on the back of higher sales of new fashion-forward merchandise.
The company, which operates 810 Hot Topic and Torrid stores, also said its new vertical sourcing model "significantly improved" gross margin rate.
"We validated the new merchandising and sourcing strategies at Torrid this quarter, and continue to be enthusiastic about Torrid as a growth vehicle for the company," said CEO and chairman Lisa Harper.
"Customers reacted positively to the new fashion-forward assortment and brand marketing introduced in late July. At Hot Topic, we continue to see improvement in the fashion apparel and tee businesses, which offset the challenges in the accessory categories."
During the three months to 27 October, net income reached US$4.3m or $0.10 per share, compared to $3.1m or $0.07 per share last year. Income from operations jumped 62.4% to $6.9m.
The California-based retailer said sales climbed 2% to $179.4m, while comparable sales edged up 0.2%.
Hot Topic also unveiled its new lingerie retail concept in five mall-based stores and online yesterday (14 November). The range, which has been developed under the Blackheart banner for women between 18 and 30, will include bras, corsets, hosiery, sleepwear, accessories and beauty products.
Faced with a raft of challenges across the apparel supply chain, how can software help tackle the key issues? Tools that connect all trading partners, streamline the end-to-end process, and give indus...
Teen apparel retailer Hot Topic has reported a 34.4% increase in its fourth-quarter profit, driven by higher sales....
US teen apparel retailer Hot Topic has announced the appointment of two executives - Don Hendricks as chief operating officer and George Wehlitz as chief financial officer....
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- Wearable technology: The future market potential for smart garments and e-textiles
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- Wearable Technology Market by Product, Application, Type, & Geography - Global Forecast to 2020
- Practical Price Negotiation


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The top rules parents have for their child’s online safety include not accepting requests from strangers, never sharing personal information and asking permission before downloading anything.
Others were to only talk to real friends or family members and not save bank card details online.
The poll of 1,000 moms and dads with children aged four-13 also stipulated no name-calling in group chats.
But almost one in 10 parents have NO online rules for their children, despite 34% worrying about their internet safety.
While only 32% have controls in place for images and videos that their child posts on social media.
The survey was commissioned by Tesco Mobile and Internet Matters to launch the Little Digital Helps Toolkit.
“We know the importance of staying connected and the opportunities’ technology can unlock for children,” said Rachel Swift, Tesco Mobile chief customer officer.
“But it’s clear from this research that many families face challenges knowing how to keep their children safe online.”
The study also found 49% of parents struggle to decide which internet safety rules to implement in general.
But to show the stark generational differences, eight in 10 would allow a child under 13 access to the internet.
However, the parents polled didn’t get online until they were 19.
It also emerged 45% are unsure about the usual amount of internet freedom a child should have.
More than half (52%) blame it on these sorts of guidelines not being around when they were young.
And 76% wish the world was as simple for children as it used to be, before internet safety became an issue.
“Giving your child their first mobile can be a difficult decision,” said Carolyn Bunting MBE, Internet Matters Co-CEO.
“That’s why we’re delighted to have partnered with Tesco Mobile, to create the Little Digital Helps Toolkit.
“It’s a place where parents can receive tailored advice and guidance on setting the right controls for their children’s devices and online activity.
“The personalized advice will give parents the peace of mind and reassurance that they have set up their child’s device in a safe and age-appropriate way.”
The toolkit offers guidance on how to protect children from excessive screen time, consuming fake news, spending money online, being exposed to inappropriate content, grooming and cyberbullying.
TOP 10 ONLINE RULES PARENTS HAVE IN PLACE
- Don’t accept requests from strangers
- Don’t share personal information
- Don’t share your address
- Ask permission before downloading anything
- Don’t pay for anything online
- Don’t put any bank card details online
- Only talk to real life friends or family members
- Don’t share any personal information on social media platforms
- Don’t accept friends on social media platforms if you don’t know them
- Don’t call people names/be horrible in group chats
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager
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Customers must be members of Amazon's $99 yearly subscription Prime service to get the speedy deliveries.
Now, Amazon is taking their Whole Foods acquisition one step further and offering free home delivery of Whole Foods' groceries. What's more, there's an affordable $3.99 delivery fee for orders, or a $9.99 per month membership option. Of the 27 current and recently departed Whole Foods workers interviewed, many see the system as punitive and believe that employees are forced to focus on paperwork at the expense of satisfying consumers. The two-hour delivery implies no costs while the one-hour delivery costs $7.99 on order higher than $35. Right after taking over Whole Foods, Amazon made a splash by cutting prices on bananas, yogurt and other items. Furthermore, Amazon intends to expand its Whole Foods groceries delivery service across the United States later this year. Keep in mind that Whole Foods delivery is only available from 8AM to 10PM, so you can't rely on it for your midnight cravings.
Amazon's purchase of Whole Foods has helped the company maintain its big-dog-on-the-porch persona.
Hugh Fletcher, global head of consultancy and innovation at ecommerce consultancy Salmon, added: "Ever since Amazon introduced Amazon Fresh, it has had its sights firmly set on the grocery market".
Whole Foods also offers delivery in some cities through a partnership with delivery service Instacart, which will continue. Target bought grocery-delivery company Shipt late previous year. Amazon Flex drivers, who work in an Uber-like fashion, according to Fortune, will make deliveries using their own cars but relying on an Amazon map app. "We're going to have a huge expansion ahead", said Landry.
The cold and flu also share some symptoms, such as headaches, potentially a sore throat, fatigue or weakness, and aches and pains. Cover your cough and sneeze, avoid people experiencing flu symptoms, stay home when you feel sick and wash your hands often.
The commission has noted that around 78,000 laptops have been affected by the recall in the USA and an additional 5,500 in Canada. The PC maker advises ThinkPad Carbon X1 owners to visit a special website and check out whether their machines are recalled.
As daylight broke, the crash scene revealed a tangle of crushed freight cars and part of the Amtrak train lying on its side. Lexington Medical Center said they had received 27 patients, all with minor injuries, and they are all being discharged.
The Trump administration denied the reports , saying it favors a "diplomatic" way of tackling the nuclear standoff. Kim also ordered the mass production of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles to accelerate their deployment.
His return, if all is fixed without issues, should come around this time next year, which is more than halfway through the season. Porzingis is eligible for a five-year, $150-million contract extension this summer, which only adds more drama to his situation.
The Cleveland Cavaliers only got a glimpse of what Isaiah Thomas was capable of, but it was not enough for the Cavs to retain him. This will allow the Lakers to potentially make a run at LeBron James over this summer or possibly another big time free agent.
As ever, Apple recommends updating the latest version of iOS to ensure current security fixes are in place. "It's a huge deal ". As reported by Motherboard , certain "key" iOS source code was recently published on Github for the world to see.
In the past, other winners who wanted to remain anonymous would create trusts , and their trustees would claim the money for them. And the woman, recognized for the time being as Jane Doe , needs a court request to enable her to gather her rewards secretly.
Goodman will represent Aldecosea should she decide to follow through with a lawsuit. "I didn't have any other options", she said. She told the newspaper she cried in a restroom stall for 10 minutes after feeling that she had no choice but to flush Pebbles .
While David Luiz has rarely played in the past few months, after seemingly falling out with the former Juventus coach. Miguel Delaney, writing in The Independent , reports that there is some discontent within the Chelsea squad.
IOC: Evidence against Russians strong despite CAS blow
On Wednesday afternoon, the CAS will also be hearing the appeal of 32 other Russian athletes who were not invited by the IOC. Forty-three individual Russian athletes were banned by a disciplinary commission in December 2017.


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Personal information of up to 750,000 Japan Airlines (JAL) customers was leaked last week due to a cyber attack. This followed the celebrity nude photo leak from earlier this month, where explicit photos showing more than 100 female stars, including Jennifer Lawrence, hit the internet.
The head of Australia’s corporate regulator has also warned that Australian businesses are not taking the risk of cyber crime seriously enough. In March, Australian Securities and Investments Commission chairman Greg Medcalf said each attack in Australia cost $2 million and that cyber crime had the potential to be the next “black swan event”.
Dr Bunker, the chief technology officer of information security company Clearswift, believes Australia is behind the rest of the world in protecting customers’ sensitive information — and says data breaches are much more common than what is disclosed.
Australia is five to 10 years behind the US and UK in protecting customer data.
“In the UK, America and Europe, we’ve been hardened,” Dr Bunker said. “In general, organisations are better prepared through a huge number of small attacks.”
Australian Law Reform Commission has recommended that it be mandatory for companies to notify affected individuals in the event of a data breach, but there is no legal obligation to do so.
“Australia is behind the curve, not least because of privacy laws. Those laws drive the adoption of security. The threat is no greater (in Australia), but because of the lack of privacy laws, you are more vulnerable,” Dr Bunker said.
It’s not clear if bank account or credit card information was compromised in the JAL attack, but Dr Bunker said hackers getting a hold of other customer details could be just as dangerous.
“They weren’t able to siphon off credit card information but that’s almost by the by because the cyber criminals are after other information: names, addresses, email addresses, birthdays — enough stuff to create a perfectly tailored phishing email,” Dr Bunker said.
Instead of seeking bank details directly, which are often better protected, hackers can use the other information companies have to create an email masquerading as a trustworthy business and entice the customer to enter their credit card number with an attractive offer.
“They know where you live, they know everything about you, so they create an email that says ‘You get a special discount if you book through this website’ and, bang, they’ve got your credit card number,” Dr Bunker said.
Companies also store information that commonly forms the answers to questions required when resetting online banking passwords, such as birth dates and maiden names, which is also highly valuable to fraudsters.
“That’s where the real threat comes from,” Dr Bunker said.
Twenty per cent of Australian organisations claim ex-employees are a source and 21 per cent blame customers, partners or suppliers.
And Dr Bunker has some frank advice for Australian companies on the need for cyber crime vigilance.
“First thing is, it’s not about if you are going to be breached, but when. And it’s often not if or when its happened, but when you find out — because it’s happening right now,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter how big or small you are, your data is of use to someone.”
He said companies’ reputations could be protected if they put in place proper safeguards, such as data-loss prevention systems, which allow sensitive data to be removed before the information leaves the organisation. If JAL has a system like this in place, the incident wouldn’t have occurred.
“If you’ve got a malicious insider, or ‘the enemy within’, you need systems in place that watch for information being used and abused, and travelling outside the organisation.”
“That inadvertent stuff happens a lot. It’s not just cyber attacks. JAL is a good wake-up call that those systems need to be checked out so the processes around them is secure and protected,” Dr Bunker said.
“Ask the people at the sharp end, do they know of any practices that might put information at risk?”
He said customers needed to be equally aware of the risks. The general public could learn from the celebrity nude photo hacking scandal, because it’s not just the picture itself that can be valuable, but the metadata contained in the image.
“In this particular case, it’s not about the obvious; it’s the other data. With the celebrity selfies, it’s really embarrassing to have a photo of you naked, of course, but the metadata tells you exactly where the picture was taken and this can be just as dangerous, in the hands of the wrong people, such as a stalker.
“The first thing is to acknowledge that using the net can be secure but it can also be very insecure.
“This has to be taken seriously, because actually your info is of incredibly good use to the cyber attacker.”
news.com.au 1 Oct 2014
People in government who obtain your information together with storing it for future reference are stalking you and by law are classified as stalkers, BUT nothing can be done about this.
Privacy laws are made for corporations and not private individuals.
People in government hack individual's computers, but once again there are no criminal repercussions.


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LITTLE ROCK, Ark — Move over beer, wine and cocktails. The biggest trend in bars are drinks without booze.
People around the world are embracing the alcohol free lifestyle and saying "make mine a mocktail.”
When Michae Orfanos gave up drinking last year it wasn’t by choice.
“I discovered, over the course of about a year, I had become intolerant to alcohol which means I don't process it anymore. All I get is alcohol poisoning. It just makes me sick,” said Michae Orfanos.
Orfanos had never had a problem with alcohol prior and suddenly was unable to even manage a sip.
“I was sad that I couldn't go out and enjoy drinks with friends anymore and wanted to see what there was in Little Rock,” said Orfanos.
Orfanos made it her mission to hunt down Arkansas' best non-alcoholic cocktail, or mocktail. She even created her own blog, Mocktail Mo.
“What a mocktail really is, is a cocktail that is alcohol free. What it is not is a soft drink,” explained Orfanos.
Orfanos said it used to be if you ordered an alcohol free drink at the bar you'd either get a weird look or a Shirley Temple. However, now places like Raduno in Little Rock are giving customers options, even putting mocktails on the menu.
“Mocktails are something new to a lot of restaurants,” said Saxon Ridgelo, bartender at Raduno. “It changes with time and people are drinking less. It caters to people who don’t drink at all.”
From Radunos's Lavender Limonta to the Cherry Basil Tonic, Orfanos said restaurants in Central Arkansas are beginning to embrace the alcohol free movement, all credit to their consumers.
“There are lot of people in this category of consumers who want alcohol free drinks. Women who are pregnant. Women who are nursing. Religious people and people who are mindfully drinking. Or are sober curious,” said Orfanos. “There is dry January and sober October and people like to give up alcohol for Lent.”
Orfanos said she hopes to see the trend continue to grow in the state even one day embracing alcohol free bars.


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The woes facing the lagging U.S. department store sector show no sign of easing, with the latest holiday season scorecard painting another downbeat picture. Kohl's, Macy's and J.C. Penney all posted lower sales.
We've issued a new Buy alert on a large-cap off-price retailer exhibiting strong price momentum and good fundamental quality scores. Historically, this Buy signal has generated a 3.5% return over a 1 month holding period (or 42% annualized) and is accurate 71% of the time.
The losses in retail this year have been huge with household names like Sears and RadioShack closing hundreds of stores. The shift has been from the mall to the discount sector, as Dollar General, Aldi and T.J. Maxx are thriving.
Amidst all the pain that the retail industry has endured over the past few years, off-price chains like T.J. Maxx, Burlington and Ross Stores have been one of the few shining stars. But recent events--and likely future forces--are throwing up a caution flag for investors.
All manner of retailers are losing sleep over Amazon — but not the off-price players. These days, two-thirds of consumers buy their duds at off-price retail chains like T.J. Maxx and Nordstrom Rack, according to a new report from The NPD Group, the global market research firm. Indeed, off-price merchants, which sell [...]
The top slot on the list goes to Carol Meyrowitz, CEO of TJX Companies Inc., parent of discount chains T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and Home Goods. But despite the industry being driven by the consumer power of women, only five occupy the highest-paid C-suite gigs.
It's a tough retail environment, but one analysts sees there is one retail segment that is poised to succeed: the so-called "off-price apparel" channel, a retail segment that counts as members the likes of TJ Maxx, Ross Stores and Burlington Stores.
You’ve learned a lot about security and data breaches and hackers over the past few years. And you are concerned about your privacy and your customers’ privacy. Relax. It’s an issue, of course. But it’s not as serious as you think. Why?


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BMZ innovations dialogue: Making fishery sustainable and fair
Not only is fishery an important provider of protein, it is also an important source of income. And for many African countries, it is the most important export product. In many areas, however, artisanal fishery in particular is threatened – by competition from major fishing fleets as well as by the wide range of factors putting pressure on the marine ecosystem. What can be done to preserve fish stocks and make fishery in Africa more sustainable?
This was the question addressed at the 4th Innovation Dialogue on the Future of Rural Regions in Africa, focusing on the topic of “Empty seas or a great potential? Options for action towards sustainable fishery”, held by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in cooperation with Bread for the World in Berlin/Germany early in November 2019 in the context of the One World – No Hunger Initiative run by Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Rising consumption is threatening stocks ...
World-wide consumption of fish and fisheries products has been on the increase for years. In 1961, per capita consumption of fish was at nine kilograms, while in 2017 it was already at 20.5 kilograms – with a tendency to rise further. Experts estimate that currently, around 30 per cent of the oceans are overfished. At the same time, fish stocks are going to decline by a further 25 per cent owing to the water warming up. Nicole Franz of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) referred to some other figures. By 2016, capture fisheries and aquaculture production had reached a record level of 171 million tonnes world-wide – compared to 16 million tonnes in 1961. Today, around 47 per cent of all fish comes from aquaculture, which employs 19.3 million people. The rest originates from marine and inland fisheries, in which a total of 40.3 million people are employed. The trend towards more aquaculture management also has a direct impact on nutrition, according to Franz. She explained in Berlin that part of the fish that had previously been directly available for human consumption was now brought to an increasingly large number of fish processing plants, the reason for this being that fish oil or fishmeal was being used as feed in more and more animal production systems.
“Furthermore, Africa is currently a net exporter of fisheries products. This is also a problem in terms of food security for these countries,” Franz added regarding the significance of fish as a source of protein. Moreover, there in particular, artisanal fishery was an important economic factor. The major share of people living on fishery were in Africa. And women accounted for 50 per cent of the labour force in fisheries. “In most developing countries, women are the strongest link in this fisheries chain for the entire sector,” declared Francisco Marí, Official for World Food Supply, Agricultural Trade and Marine Policy of Bread for the World, and an expert on maritime policy. “They sell the fish, they process it, and they earn the money that has to be advanced for the fishers to buy fuel so that they can sail out in the first place.”
However, their livelihoods were threatened by industrial fishery. “In just one day, a European or Asian fish trawler takes significantly more fish out of the sea than a Mauritanian or Senegalese boat can with the same number of crew in a whole year,” explained Thilo Hoppe, Development Cooperation Official of the organisation Bread for the World. It was difficult for local artisanal small fishers to hold their own given such competition, Hoppe maintained, adding that there were a wide range of other challenges for the sector, starting with illegal fishing and marine pollution, but also including threats such as the expansion of port facilities and tourism projects as well as the already mentioned negative impacts of climate change. He held that the priority had to be to eliminate hunger while maintaining marine biodiversity – a major challenge the mastering of which was not only up to the fishers in Africa.
Managing European waters in a healthier manner and restoring them would reduce fishing pressure exerted by the European fleet outside Europe. This could lower competition between industrial and small-scale fisheries outside Europe, Marí added. And if the fish was not accessible for small-scale fisheries because the stocks were 2.5 nautical miles and more away from the coast, there should be onshore employment in processing.
The BMZ also attaches considerable importance to fisheries. Although just 60 million euros out of the total of around ten billion euros that the BMZ budget adds up to flows into the area of fisheries, with its ten-item plan of 2016, the BMZ has committed itself to increasing Germany’s development cooperation effort in the areas of management of coastal economic zones and marine conservation. Here, maintaining fisheries as a livelihood for the people living in coastal areas as well as promoting sustainable and socially responsible processing and marketing of fish is an important element. Supporting partner countries in stamping out illegal fishing is also on the agenda.
In Berlin, Gunther Beger, Head of the Department for Policy Issues, the Private Sector and Rural Development at the BMZ, pointed to another important activity area. “One third of the entire economic value of fish is subsidies – subsidies only the most minute portion of which is paid in the African countries and most of which is provided by the industrialised countries,” Beger explained. This resulted in the discrepancy between small fishers in the partner countries and large-scale industrial fisheries becoming even larger.
Calling on trade and consumers
According to Stefanie Kirse, Programme Director of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), there were significantly more protagonists who could contribute to sustainable fishery. “We are encouraging the business partners, that is manufacturers and traders, to change their range of fish articles in order to have more and more sustainable products on sale in the future,” Kirse explained. By opting for products with the MSC seal, consumers could then contribute directly to marine conservation. So far, around 380 fisheries world-wide had been MSC-certified.
One of these traders which Kirse is encouraging is “Metro AG”. Its Corporate Responsibility Director Andrea Weber told the meeting in Berlin that Metro were Europe’s largest fresh fish marketers, selling 200,000 tonnes to around 21 million customers at their more than 700 stores in 36 countries each year. And since Metro were the interface with the consumer, Weber also acknowledged the company’s own responsibility. “We have to think about which fish we will be able to and wish to sell tomorrow,” she noted. “This can only be accomplished with sustainable management.” However, it was also obvious that Metro were not operating entirely altruistically. A balanced relationship always had to be maintained between quality, price, sustainability and availability. It was not possible to concentrate solely on certification, although Metro were enabling customers to decide which products – whether certified or uncertified – they wished to buy.
Taking the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture as an incentive
“There are enough guidelines for these different approaches. Now it is important to get together and work on implementing them,” said FAO expert Franz in her final address. The United Nations has declared 2022 the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture. It can only be hoped that this will not merely draw everyone’s attention to this sector, but that deeds will follow.
Marijke Lass, journalist, Berlin/Germany


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Oakland-based coffee chain Blue Bottle announced Thursday, Sept. 14, it will sell a majority stake (68%) to Swiss food company Nestlé. Blue Bottle, which was founded in 2002 by James Freeman, who started selling coffee out of a 183-foot kiosk, will keep its headquarters in Oakland. It will still operate as a stand-alone entity. Freeman, who is now chief product officer for the business, and CEO Bryan Meehan will also continue to lead the company.
Blue Bottle is credited with helping launch the third wave coffee movement in the United States, introducing pour-over coffee and single-origin beans to the masses. Since it opened 15 years ago, Blue Bottle has rapidly expanded, opening in the Bay Area, New York and Tokyo. It continues to look for more locations. In June, it opened a new café in Old Oakland, where it moved its training program from its Jack London Square facilities. It also has plans to open a production facility in West Berkeley this year, within the old Pyramid Brewery space. As reported on Nosh, Blue Bottle will take up 7,500 square feet in this space to make the coffee company’s popular cold brew cans. The company has a goal of opening 25 new cafes this year, and will open new locations in Washington, D.C., Miami and Boston.
According to Business Insider, Nestlé is dropping $500 million for the majority stake; Blue Bottle is valued at more than $700 million.
Blue Bottle explained in a press release announcing the sale that the deal with Nestlé will allow it to continue to grow in many ways, including in coffee technologies, employee opportunities and benefits, new cafés and roasteries, its international reach through its digital program and its consumer packaged-goods line, including its NOLA iced coffee cartons, cold brew cans and pre-ground coffee.
The move for Nestlé means legitimacy, a way in on what it sees as a consumer trend it hopes will continue to grow. Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider said in a press release announcing the sale, “Blue Bottle’s passion for quality coffee and mission-based outlook make for a highly successful brand. Their path to scale is clearly defined and benefits from increasing consumer appreciation for delicious and sustainable coffee.” Nestlé currently already sells coffee under its Nescafé and Nespresso lines but, by acquiring Blue Bottle, it’s tapping into a whole new market.
Even before the announcement of the sale, Blue Bottle has caused some consumers to worry that the chain is growing too fast and becoming too corporate. In 2017, residents and the Planning Commission in San Francisco’s Lower Haight blocked Blue Bottle from opening a café at 201 Steiner St., an empty storefront once occupied by beloved neighborhood café Bean There. The commission made its decision based on Blue Bottle owning 34 locations around the world at the time; San Francisco defines “formula retail” as a business with more than 11 locations. Critics of Blue Bottle worry that its cafés are competing against small local coffee shops and replacing community character with a sterile, formulaic chain store. The sale to Nestlé will undoubtedly spark more debate and opposition from its detractors.


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SP’s: At its Windows 10 device launch event, Microsoft launched a whole new line-up of devices that made a great impact on the audience. The company also took a chance to call out Apple from the main stage.
From the stage of Windows 10 device launch event, Microsoft became a full-fledged product company and released some of its best hardware ever. The company released its first ever laptop called Surface Book and showed a mind-blowing demo of HoloLens and Project X-Ray.
Apart from the above-mentioned surprises, Microsoft also launched its Surface 4 Pro hybrid PC and the new Surface Pen.
Calling out the Apple Pencil, Microsoft’s Panos Panay said, “It’s kind of funny, there’s a Pencil out there without an eraser.” The audience chuckled as Microsoft took an opportunity to make a joke.
Along the similar lines, Microsoft’s head of Windows and devices Terry Myerson tweeted the following just before the new event.
@maryjofoley, @alex, @thurrott, @tomwarren hope you enjoy the show today…pay attention – some new things might pop up pic.twitter.com/yHbgfLNyfN— Terry Myerson (@tmyerson) October 6, 2015
If you don’t remember, in Apple 2012, Apple CEO Tim Cook commented on the newly released Surface hybrid-PC, “You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but those things are probably not gonna be pleasing to the user.” Seems like Terry Myerson had his sweet revenge.
With the launch of devices that are a great competition to the Apple’s line-up, it looks like Microsoft had a pretty great day.
Did you like the new products from the house of Microsoft? Tell us in the comments below.


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SMART Label 2017: Call for Submission now is over!
SMART Label 2017: Call for Submission: SMART Label, the award for innovation in the professional hospitality industry promoted by Host – Fiera Milano, in collaboration with POLI.design, Consorzio del Politecnico di Milano, returns with a new edition of the industrial design competition aimed at all companies attending Host 2017, the leading global event in the hotel, catering, food service, retail and retail distribution sector.
Industrial design competition SMART Label is an award for innovation in the hospitality industry, promoted by HOST - Fiera Milano in collaboration with POLI.design, which will be given during the next edition of HOST 2017 to those products / services / projects that stand out for distinctive features in terms of functionality, technology, environmental sustainability, or ethical or social implications.
This award has geared itself towards innovation and ease of use in these early releases; a trend that’s even more apparent with the latest edition, which has been eagerly anticipated in the industry as a crucial opportunity and a driver for change.
The 3rd SMART Label award in 2017 aims to repeat the great success of past events, which attracted a total of 318 nominations, the participation of companies from a wide range sectors - as diverse as furniture, professional catering, tea and coffee, bars, coffee machines and tableware - and the award of 98 SMART Labels and 13 Innovation SMART Labels for the most ground-breaking products.
The use of the Internet of things is one of the main requirements for the award: special mention will be made of entries that connect different products digitally for improved user interaction.
The prize aims to promote the most advanced solutions from companies exhibiting at the 40th Fair, with two distinct categories of award:
- SMART Label: for products with unique innovative content in terms of functionality, technology, environmental sustainability and ethical and social implications;
- Innovation SMART Label:for products with highly innovative content that seek to break up and overcome established industry trends.
The candidate products/services/project will be selected considering their innovative features in terms of processes and materials used in manufacturing, features of products and services, the applied technologies, ethics and perceived value, and social and environmental sustainability.
There is no entry fee to participate!
No Entry Fee!There is no entry fee to participate!
This competition is aimed at all companies attending Host 2017, the leading global event in the hotel, catering, food service, retail and retail distribution sector, scheduled at Fiera Milano, Rho, from Friday 20 to Tuesday 24 October 2017.


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Netflix Start Cracking Down Proxies And UnBlockers
Netflix announced that they will begin preventing customers from using proxies and unblockers to access contents that are not available in their regions.
This announcement came after Netflix went global by expanding to 130 countries. However, not every country get access to all contents, as some of the shows and movies are region blocked.
Many Netflix users residing in countries other than U.S are using VPNs, proxies to access shows that are not legally available in their countries. These people will not be happy with this announcement, but Netflix says is necessary for its business.
Some members use proxies or “unblockers” to access titles available outside their territory. To address this, we employ the same or similar measures other firms do. This technology continues to evolve and we are evolving with it. That means in coming weeks, those using proxies and unblockers will only be able to access the service in the country where they currently are. We are confident this change won’t impact members not using proxies.
Netflix also claims that they are working with content providers and renegotiating some of the license deal to remove region locks and bring more content to its users irrespective of their location.


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Digital Assets: Zipmex Helps Asian Buyer Splurge Bitcoin On A Lambo
Leading Southeast Asian crypto exchange Zipmex processed the transaction on its ZipSpend crypto-payment network.
The distinction for the purchase of Asia’s first Lamborghini using bitcoin goes to car buyer Jo Chirawat, exchange Zipmex, and Bangkok-based Lambo dealer Renazzo Motors. Zipmex announced it had facilitated the transaction for a bitcoin-paid Lamborghini 2021 Huracán EVO RWD through its ZipSpend crypto-payment network. (Finextra).
Lamborghini 2021 Huracán EVO RWD
Chirawat made a down payment on the Lambo by paying bitcoin to dealer Renazzo. The dealer accepts payment in bitcoin (BTC), USD tether (USDT), and Zipmex token (ZMT) with instant verification on Zipmex’s ZipSpend crypto payments network.
The buyer will make the balance payment also in bitcoin.
“This is a huge milestone for Zipmex, Renazzo Motor, and cryptocurrency payments in Southeast Asia,” said Zipmex CEO Marcus Lim. “The Lamborghini brand has had special meaning in our industry and we are excited to be able to provide our users with the opportunity to do more with their cryptocurrencies.”
Zipmex is pushing for the adoption of cryptos in more and more transactions across Southeast Asia. Other Thai merchants integrated for payments with Zipmex include the NOVA Contemporary gallery, which allows fine art lovers to purchase art with cryptocurrencies.
Further, WasuthaGroup, the first distributor of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) vehicles in Thailand, sold its first Tesla using Zipmex to process the payment in bitcoin.
“We are actively welcoming all partners interested in accepting crypto payments,” said Mr. Lim. “As our team grows, we plan to scale up our merchant integration across the region, with Singapore as the focal point.”
Zipmex, which operates in four Southeast Asian locations, including Singapore, launched in Thailand in the summer of 2020.
In Thailand, the company has seen 5x growth in customer acquisition and 10x growth in transaction volume and AUM since launch.
Related Story: Tesla Converts $1.5B Of Surplus Cash To Bitcoin
Image credit: Lamborghini
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Westlake Chemical Corp. opened a new office in Singapore to help expand its presence in the Asian marketplace and strengthen its operations around the world.
Houston-based Westlake Chemical (NYSE: WLK) said in a March 27 statement that David Chao, the company’s director of business development—Asia will lead the new office. Chao will focus on keeping up existing business relationships in the area as well as look for new business opportunities.
Westlake Chemical is a petrochemical and building products company. Earlier this year, the company tried to buy Georgia Gulf Corp. (NYSE: GGC), an Atlanta-based chemical company.


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Century-old architecture and design firm Mancini Duffy is opening its second New Jersey office, this one in Red Bank, the company announced Oct. 11.
Mancini, founded 105 years ago with an office in New York City, will formally open the Red Bank location at 200 Monmouth St. downtown, in what’s known as the borough’s “Arts and Antique District.”
With an office already in Millburn, the new Monmouth County location will open at the end of October with a capacity for 12 employees, according to Monday’s announcement.
It will have a number of retail neighbors in the four-story Anderson Building, built as a warehouse in the 1920s and located across the street from the borough train station.
“As there has been migration out of New York City, more company leaders who reside in Monmouth County realize their company can be here, too, to cater to their existing local clients,” Christian Giordano, the firm’s owner, said in the Monday announcement.
That means design for buildings amid the explosion in redevelopment across the state, said principal and shareholder Scott Harrell, ranging from warehouses and distribution centers, to residential and retail mixed-use projects.
The so-called “warehouse sprawl” across the Garden State has met resistance by several lawmakers, who are aiming to enact roadblocks for the surge of such construction in suburbs, rural stretches and environmentally sensitive corners of the state.
Mancini previously did a renovation study for 4 Gateway Center in Newark, according to its website, as well as designs for Bell Works in Holmdel, formerly the site of the famed Bell Labs, and Guardian Life Insurance, a tenant at Bell Works.
It was also involved with the design of accounting firm Sax’s new office at the Latitude in Parsippany; the rebranding of SJP Properties’ 95 Green St. property in Jersey City to the Liberty Innovation Centre; the massive, 756-unit Holland Center mixed-use towers in Jersey City; The Green, an office building based in Florham Park; and accounting giant KPMG’s Short Hills office.


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Why buy candy or flowers for Mother’s Day when you can get mom a car? A company is offering to steer people to a new or used vehicle as a much more expensive present than what people typically spend.
Auto Liquidator has set up a site to help people find “the best Mothers Day car sales they can possibly find.” This includes the ability to find new and used cars by brand and location. The site allows people to search for cars that already may be on sale as part of deals that manufacturers have set for May, among others. Some of these vehicles are already on sale for Memorial Day, which falls on May 29 and is only 15 days after Mother’s Day this year.
The Auto Liquidator pitch is that mother will appreciate a car much more than traditional gifts, which are virtually always much less expensive. The National Retail Federation reports that the average spending for the holiday will be $172.22 this year. The company says:
What better way to show your mother how much you appreciate her than by getting her deals on new cars? You are sure to be her new favorite child when she is driving around town in one of the best new cars of the year.
According to Cars.com, the average price for a new car in the first quarter of 2017 was “$31,400 after incentives.” And that is not the entire cost. Quadrant Information Services reports that the average cost to insure a car nationwide is just over $907.
The Auto Liquidator site has many features traditional car-buying sites do. It allows people to search both new and used models by make, model and year. It also has listings from all 50 states. And it uses these features to entice people to use the site:
Just waltzing on in to a dealership is not the ideal way to find a low price for these holiday sales. The real way to get the best cheap new cars is to utilize the internet resources you can find right here. We make it easy to find the best deals on the 2017 new cars you want to drive.
Consumer Affairs reports that people can buy a car in a single day, which is called “spot delivery.” That means there are two days left to buy mom a gift that will last much longer than flowers or a box of chocolates.


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IATA has teamed up with the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to launch a free online tool allowing governments to share information on any Covid-19 requirements.
The Destination Tracker will have provide details on a number of factors, including infection and vaccination rates in a destination, air travel regulations concerning testing and quarantine and in-destination measures, such as mask use or restaurant regulations.
The tool is designed to encourage travellers to start booking trips again once borders reopen by giving them all the information they need to make fully informed decisions.
UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili said: “UNWTO is pleased to reinforce its partnership with IATA, a UNWTO Affiliate Member, to provide this important tool.
“Travellers and companies will be able to check requirements in place for air travel, as well as what measures will be in place at the visited destination.
“We trust this tool is also critical for governments to track existing travel restrictions and support the safe restart of our sector.”
IATA director-general Willie Walsh added: “It has been more than a year since the freedom to travel was lost as COVID-19 measures saw borders close.
“When governments have the confidence to re-open borders people will be eager to travel. And they will need accurate information to guide them.
“With the support of national tourism organizations, the UNWTO-IATA Destination Tracker will help travellers and travel companies obtain the latest information for travel planning.”


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Wisconsin craft beer and state breweries are the focus of a new piece of legislation which aims to make the state the “Napa Valley” of the brew industry.
A bill from Rep. Gary Tauchen, R-Bonduel, looks to establish a beer commission that would focus on further promoting Wisconsin beer and breweries.
In 2012 alone, Wisconsin residents consumed $4,160,398 in beer, ranking the state fifth in beer consumption per capita in the United States.
Beer production in Wisconsin generates $8.6 billion in revenues and has created more than 60,600 jobs in the state, according to the Beer Institute. According to The New York Times, Wisconsin was one of two states in the nation in 2010 that had more bars than grocery stores.
“Beer is a part of our heritage and it’s something that we all enjoy,” Tauchen said. “We want to continue to grow the industry and create jobs in the state and to provide for tourism. It should be a priority.”
Guy Rehorst, founder of the Milwaukee-based Great Lakes Distillery, said the bill would help bolster the growing beer industry, which he says plays an important role in the culture and revenue of Wisconsin. Rehorst said Wisconsin’s brewing industry has grown hugely since the repeal of prohibition in 1933.
Despite ranking 20th in population,Wisconsin has consistently ranked in the top five state for beer consumption and, as of 2012, is home to 87 breweries, according to the Beer Institute, an organization representing the $246.5 billion American beer industry.
“People are always looking for unique and local things. Wisconsin used to have a couple major breweries, and that was it, then craft breweries came along,” Rehorst said.
To make Wisconsin a destination akin to the Napa and Sonoma Valleys for wine connoisseurs, Tauchen hopes the committee can follow similar steps that California took through the development of state committees and programs to support Wisconsin’s growing beer industry.
Tauchen said the state’s beer industry already creates many jobs and the bill and would further boost the economy.
“There are a lot of jobs provided by the industry and we have an opportunity to expand it and grow it,” he said. “We can make it one of those items that people think of when they think of Wisconsin.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., who represents the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in Congress, has worked closely with other congressmen to establish and maintain California’s dominance in wine and wine tourism, according to his office’s website.
To encourage more wineries to open, Thompson worked to pass legislation such as the Market Access Program, which allows smaller wineries to gain a share of the market. Thompson has also lobbied to promote tax cuts for California’s wine industry.
“The wine industry generates an estimated $162 billion for the U.S. economy every year and supports the equivalent of 1.1 million full-time jobs,” Thompson said in a statement. “The cultural and economic impact of [California’s] wine industry cannot be overstated.”
Although the Wisconsin beer industry is significantly smaller than California’s wine industry, Wisconsin currently ranks 11th in the nation in breweries per capita and Tauchen believes that it can continue to grow.
Tauchen said he was confident the bill would eventually pass, although he said he does not expect the bill to pass before the end of this session. He added it was important to start the conversation now so the legislation can be taken up in the next legislative session.


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Leftist website Slate recently published an article titled “Alex Jones Gets to Declare a Real Info War Now” in which the publication described the actual censorship that Jones suffered while claiming that he has not really been prevented from airing his ideas.
Slate published an article recently discussing the recent purge of Alex Jones and InfoWars pages across social media. Facebook, Youtube, and Apple all removed InfoWars content from their platforms in the space of a single day, which seems to imply that tech companies may be colluding with each other when they decide who should be de-platformed.
The Slate article states:
War or not, Alex Jones fans still have plenty of options to get their fix of right-fringe conspiracy-laden news: Beyond Infowars’ website, there’s the organization’s mobile app, which is still currently available for download in Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. Slate first reported Monday morning that the Infowars app was still up in the Apple App Store despite the Apple podcast removal. At that time, the app ranked No. 56 in the App Store among news apps. By Monday evening, following the removals from Facebook and YouTube, Jones’ app had climbed to No. 7.
Though Apple might merit credit for giving the other platforms some cover to take more serious action against Jones, who has been using the sites to disseminate frequently harmful false stories for years, the fact that Infowars continues to have an app on Apple’s App Store is glaring. For what it’s worth, Infowars still has a presence on LinkedIn and Instagram, too. But Monday’s bannings—and Jones’ response to them—raise a new question: Will the platforms’ actions diminish the reach of Jones’ conspiracy theories? (The more infamous of them include the false assertions that the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax and that the survivors of the Parkland, Florida, shooting are crisis actors.) Or will Jones be able to use the bans to paint himself as a free-speech martyr, further cementing his audience’s devotion?
According to Slate, because Infowars can still use its LinkedIn account, they haven’t really been censored. While Infowars may retain access to its LinkedIn and Instagram profiles, the majority of its social media following was based around Facebook and YouTube. While it may still have access to those that follow on LinkedIn, its YouTube subscribers and Facebook follower figures far outweigh the LinkedIn following.
Slate then bemoans the fact that these platforms didn’t ban InfoWars earlier, calling Jones a “bigoted fabulist.”
One of the great ironies in this mess is that YouTube, Facebook, and Apple are all deciding to enforce community moderation policies against hate speech that they’ve long had on their books. Any one of them could have taken this action years ago. But they didn’t, perhaps fearing that they’d be labeled as censorious liberals executing a political agenda, as if there’s anything particularly partisan about preventing a popular and bigoted fabulist from using your services to spread lies that are leading to real-world harm. They helped Jones exit the fringe and penetrate the mainstream. Now their fear could be realized—they’re being labeled as left-wing tech companies acting out a political agenda by right-wing media critics.
And almost proving the collusion that many have feared, Slate states that big tech companies are “in it together,”
At least the tech companies are in it together. And, of course, Jones’ fans aren’t at a total loss: Their favorite broadcaster spent the day posting videos on Twitter, collecting likes and retweets by the thousands.


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Chandigarh, July 17 (PTI) Schreiber Dynamix Dairies Pvt Ltd (SDDPL) today launched its second aseptic food processing and packaging facility at Fazilka here.
Set up in International Food Park here, Rs 100 crore was invested in this project, the company said in a statement today.
The facility was inaugurated by Francois Salamon, President of Schreiber International; Amitabha Ray, Chairman and Managing Director of SDDPL and Kandarp Singh, Managing Director of Tetra Pak South Asia Markets.
SDDPL is countrys first dedicated contract packer for foods in Tetra Pak cartons and uses Tetra Paks advanced processing and packaging technology to partner leading food and beverage players like PepsiCo, Nestle, Danone, Britannia and Hector Beverages, it said.
Aseptic beverages offer high quality and safe products with long shelf life, without the need for refrigeration or preservatives, it said, adding that currently, brands like Tropicana, Nestle and Paper Boat are processed and packed in SDDPLs plant at Baramati, Maharashtra.
Salamon said: "The market for aseptic beverages in India is showing exponential growth and there still is a lot of untapped potential. This along with the Government of Indias support in developing Food Parks has given us the impetus to invest in a second facility.
Ray said that with his companys existing plant at Baramati running at full capacity, this new integrated facility not only increases production capabilities, but also gives a geographical advantage to cater to consumers in North India who account for 50 per cent of the countrys aseptic beverage consumption.
"We are proud to extend our 20-year partnership with Tetra Pak that has allowed us to offer end-to-end solutions to our customers. With growth of over 23 per cent over last year in contract packaging, we are confident that this new facility in Punjab will provide an exciting opportunity for more companies to enter this sunshine sector," he added.
Singh said Tetra Pak brings in world-class technology, strong technical support and high quality standards. "We are the only company in the industry that provides an integrated, end-to-end full-system solution to food companies." PTI CHS SA


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Fake websites to rake in millions during holiday shopping season - CBS' Anna Werner tells you how to spot these scams
NEW YORK, NY (CBS News) - Global supply chain bottlenecks are making things difficult for holiday shoppers.
According to one survey, 77 percent of American adults say they have experienced product- related shopping problems. Nearly half of those were for items that were either out of stock or backordered. And, to make things worse, scammers are taking advantage of these difficulties by setting up fake websites.
Iowa high school senior Jayce Leninger likes music, in particular, artist Billie Eilish. So when the singer-songwriter released her new album over the summer, he decided to by himself a birthday gift. He picked up some of her merchandise from what looked like her bona fide website.
"I started looking around and shopping," says Leninger.
He bought a "bundle" he'd seen on Instagram, with a sweatshirt, poster, and other items. Price tag? About $100. But, when the transaction hit his bank account, he says, it showed some $79 which he found suspicious.
"And so after that, I started to look at the website, look up reviews on the website, and there are over like a thousand people reviewing this website saying it's a scam. Don't buy. I haven't got my stuff in over half a year," explains Leninger.
"So what has happened in terms of your money and your merchandise?" asks reporter Anna Werner.
"Well, I don't have the merchandise or my money," he answers.
He's just one of thousands of consumers who say they've lost money to scammers posing as legitimate online retailers.
"We have seen a 2000 percent increase over the past three months, driven by the supply chain issues that are in this country today," says Haywood Talcove, CEO of Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions.
Talcove says that equals over 5,000 fake sites, up from just 100 or so earlier this year, as criminals take advantage of consumers' need for products now in short supply.
"What's happening is when you go to some of the big-box stores, whether it be Wal-Mart, Amazon, Best Buy, they don't have the toy that you want in stock. And then you Google it. And then you find this really boutique company that is offering the bicycle that your daughter wants and you think, you know what? I'm going to get it. It really isn't a company. It's run. It's a front for a transnational criminal group," advises Talcove.
And Dave Holister with the Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force says those criminals' fake sites, typically launched from overseas, are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
"They, you know, they they learn as they go, just like you and I, it's their job," says Holister.
But examine sites closely, he says, and there are often tipoffs: misspellings, grammar mistakes, links on the page that don't work, and a refusal to accept credit cards.
"These sources and these websites will often only ask for payment via a a wire service such as PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, places where when those services that where the transaction is put through, those monies are gone. And it's very likely almost impossible for the consumer to get their money back," he advises.
"It's like a virus. It just spreads. It doesn't stop until the consumers stop falling for the trick," says Talcove.
He estimates consumers will have $20 billion stolen by the end of the holiday shopping season.


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Fortune 500 companies are paving the way to cut greenhouse gases and limit the rise of global temperature. A report from the World Wildlife Fund, “Power Forward 3.0,” is an update from a 2014 release that shows the world’s top companies are continuing to change their energy habits and reduce emissions. Companies such as IBM, Facebook, Microsoft, ExxonMobil, and many more were included in the latest report.
There’s strong leadership at the top of the list. 63 of the Fortune 100 companies feature at least one clean energy initiative. ExxonMobil will be reducing emissions by bringing in biofuels made from algae. That’s one of the many renewable energy sources that can be used without needing to rely as much on fossil fuels. Based on the report, “the annual emission reductions from these efforts are equivalent to taking 45 coal-fired power plants offline for one year.”
Furthering the emission reduction is Microsoft, dropping it by 9.5 million metric tons since 2012. On their environmental website, the company explains it has been 100 percent carbon neutral since that time and it has “purchased more than 14 billion kilowatt hours of green power.” It self-imposes a fee of any carbon use be it through electricity or transportation.
Ken Silverstein of the Environmental Leader highlights the most frequent update in the latest report. “About 24 companies,” including Microsoft, are using renewable energy as a main resource. Others listed include Facebook and Google. 44 of the smallest Fortune 500 companies are also doing their part: “That’s up from 19% in 2013. Consumer staples such as food and beverage companies are the highest achievers while oil and gas companies are at the bottom of the list.”
Most of these companies are also part of the Green Power Partnership through the EPA. Both Intel and Microsoft use the highest amount of green power per year by over 1.5 million kWh than the next company. Among the retail sector, Kohl’s Department Stores score the best while Wal-Mart, Starbucks, IKEA, and Best Buy are also located in the top 15 of the list in the retail and service industries.
A huge incentive on going green is that it pays nicely. According to the report, nearly 200 companies have saved around $3.7 billion when they’ve switched to more efficient energy. They’re also able to purchase renewable energy alternatives while getting federal tax credits.
The ultimate goal is to keep the global temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. It may seem like a small number, but the temperature has fluctuated by just one degree Celsius over a 10,000-year span. An increase of two has the potential to drastically change weather patterns. All these companies doing their part to limit greenhouse gases could not only save them money, but reduce major impacts on the environment.


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Apple, the tech giant renowned for its innovative products and services, has achieved a significant milestone in the financial market. On Friday, the company’s market capitalization surpassed $3 trillion, marking a historic moment for Apple and the broader technology industry. This accomplishment solidifies Apple’s position as one of the most valuable companies in the world. Let’s delve into the details of this remarkable feat and explore the factors contributing to Apple’s continued success.
Apple’s market cap has soared to new heights, crossing the $3 trillion mark. This achievement is a testament to the company’s enduring popularity and the confidence of investors in its ability to deliver outstanding performance. Moreover, this is not the first time Apple has approached this milestone, as it previously came close to reaching a $3 trillion market cap in 2022. However, what sets this achievement apart is that Apple managed to close above the $3 trillion mark for the first time ever.
Apple’s Market Cap Milestone
To understand the significance of Apple’s market cap achievement, it is crucial to consider the share price required to reach this milestone. According to CNBC’s latest share count, Apple’s shares climbed approximately 2.31% to a new high, surpassing the $190.73 price required to hit the $3 trillion market cap. Closing above this level not only demonstrates the strength of Apple’s performance but also signifies the confidence of investors in the company’s future prospects.
Investor Confidence in Apple
The sustained growth in Apple’s market cap is a testament to the unwavering confidence investors have in the company. Despite the challenges faced by the technology sector, Apple has emerged as a beacon of stability and innovation. The company’s diverse portfolio of products and services continues to captivate consumers worldwide. Even in May, when Apple issued a warning about an expected 3% decline in its current quarter revenue, investors remained bullish on the stock.
Anticipated Growth Opportunities
Investors and analysts foresee significant growth opportunities on the horizon for Apple. One of the key factors contributing to this optimism is the upcoming release of iPhone 14. Experts believe that a substantial portion, approximately 25%, of Apple’s loyal customer base has not upgraded their iPhones in over four years. This presents a massive upgrade opportunity that could potentially drive Apple’s growth in the coming months. Furthermore, there are high expectations for an iPhone 15 “super cycle” that could further propel Apple’s success.
Apple’s Performance in the Market
Apple’s market cap achievement is further reinforced by its impressive stock performance. Year-to-date, Apple’s shares have surged by approximately 49%, outperforming market expectations. This robust growth is a testament to Apple’s resilience and ability to adapt to changing market dynamics. Despite the uncertainties surrounding the tech industry, Apple has remained a steadfast performer, delivering value to its shareholders.
In conclusion, Apple’s market cap surpassing $3 trillion is a momentous event that underscores the company’s strength and resilience in the ever-evolving technology landscape. As the first company to achieve this milestone, Apple continues to set the bar high for its competitors. With a portfolio of groundbreaking products and services, coupled with anticipated growth opportunities, Apple is poised for a promising future. As investors and consumers eagerly await the next wave of innovation, Apple remains at the forefront of the industry.
- How did Apple achieve a $3 trillion market cap? Apple’s market cap surpassed $3 trillion due to a combination of factors, including strong performance in the stock market, investor confidence in the company’s future prospects, and the continued success of its diverse product and service offerings.
- What is a golden customer base? The golden customer base refers to a segment of Apple’s customer demographic that has not upgraded their iPhones in over four years. This represents a significant opportunity for Apple to drive growth through product upgrades and enhanced customer experiences.
- How has Apple’s stock performed this year? Apple’s stock has performed exceptionally well this year, with a year-to-date growth of approximately 49%. Despite the challenges faced by the tech industry, Apple has consistently outperformed market expectations, showcasing its resilience and ability to deliver value to its shareholders.
- What are the anticipated growth opportunities for Apple? Apple has several anticipated growth opportunities, including the upcoming release of iPhone 14, which presents a significant upgrade opportunity for a substantial portion of its customer base. Additionally, there are high expectations for an iPhone 15 “super cycle” that could drive further growth for the company.
- What are some factors contributing to investor confidence in Apple? Investor confidence in Apple stems from the company’s track record of innovation, its ability to adapt to changing market conditions, and the positive reception of its products and services. Additionally, analysts and experts have expressed optimism regarding Apple’s growth potential, further bolstering investor confidence.


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Huawei, the global technology company, has launched the third edition of the Huawei Global App Innovation Contest (Apps UP) 2022 in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) to assist developers in bringing their smart apps and experiences across Huawei devices to a larger global audience.
Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), ADCB, and Centerpoint Online gained access to Huawei’s latest technological capabilities, including the innovative app distribution platform, AppGallery, as part of the partnership.
HUAWEI AppGallery provides customers in MENA with a collection of playoffs over a wide range of games, whether you’re looking for entertainment with your friends, family, or a gaming fanatic online.
“HUAWEI Ads has given us the ability to run app download and sales campaigns that directly reach our target audience of new and expecting mothers interested in fashion and online shopping,” says Stella Chen.
AppGallery is committed to provide users with wide range of high-quality and innovative apps that meet their demands. Moreover, it continue to empower next generation of local developers to benefit from listing apps on AppGallery.


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Many smartphone companies woke up pretty late to India’s viability as a smartphone market pretty late. While Samsung woke up to this fact some years ago, it seems Apple has just started to make the realization – it has finally woken up to the scope of the market and is now making efforts to create space in a market occupied by a multitude of international and domestic brands.
“Apple has realized that if it wants to grow fast in India, it has to look beyond the metros. The company wants to grow upwards of 30% year-on-year in India and feels the smaller markets would play a critical role since the aspiration level of Apple products amongst the youth and rich is growing there as well.” Says the CEO of an Apple India retail chain, according to Economic Times
Apple currently has only 5 percent of the Indian smartphone markets, which is miserly compared to its global reach. Apple executives Kaul and Dhir, say this is not so because of lack of demand. Many people aspire to own an iPhone. The problem is unlike say the U.S., Apple doesn’t have any tie-ups with Indian carriers and its phones come at a great premium and are out of reach of many. This kind of mars it reach to the masses even in the metros, let alone smaller markets.
Apple did kind of achieve some amount of success when it offered its phones on installment plans. It further met with better demand, when it chipped off the price tag of the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4.
But the truth is firstly, its products come much later to India after their global release. And the secondly its immediate models come at a premium price which limits it to the luxury consumer.
The biggest rival for Samsung in Indian market for Apple is Samsung, which has kind of captured the beat of the Indian consumer with its pricing and reach. For example the iPhone 5 is priced here around 45 K while a competing Samsung Galaxy S4 comes for 30-35 K effectively placing it at a better pedestal with the consumer.
But, it seems Apple India people are making themselves heard and we might see more subsidized Apple handsets in the future.
The new marketing vision for India was unveiled at a meeting with 20 CEOs and senior executives of the country’s top multi-brand telecom and electronic retail chains. Apple wants to set up 100 exclusive standalone stores under the franchisee model in smaller markets. It’s scouting for franchise partners and has made proposals to some of the multi-brand retail chains, the executives said. Apple has not set any deadline for setting up these stores in smaller towns in India, but is looking to roll them out this financial year.
As far as the pricing goes, no word out yet. But, since Apple is trying to expand its reach, we are hoping that it does get better. How the cookie crumbles will only be evident when the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are released here.


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In August, Brazil experienced a decline in retail sales, primarily driven by reduced consumer spending on clothing, furniture, and household appliances. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), sales decreased by 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis during the month, but still managed to show a 2.3% growth compared to the previous year.
Over the past few months, Brazil’s economic activity has displayed indications of a slowdown, as the initial recovery from the pandemic-related shutdown begins to lose momentum. Although government aid payments to low-income families have been instrumental in sustaining demand, factors such as a decrease in job creation and soaring borrowing rates have impacted purchasing power among households.
Specific Categories Affected
Within the retail sector, there were notable declines in the sales of clothing, shoes, fabrics (-0.4% in August, following a 2.9% drop in the previous month) and purchases of furniture and appliances (-2.2% in August, after a 1.1% decline in July).
We will continue to monitor and assess the evolving situation in Brazil’s retail market.